The Sights, Smells and Sounds of Christmas

It’s my day on the holiday blog tour and I want to welcome you all here for my contribution to the holiday tour.

When I think about Christmas Eve, my mind is assaulted by the smells, flavors and sounds of my youth and of my present. It is also filled with hope for the future Christmas Eves and what they will bring.

The smells. Pine, sharp and almost biting as we drag in the tree. When we were kids, it was a visit to the local tree stand. I remember my mom crying one Christmas because she couldn’t afford the tree she wanted and my sister and I chipping in our savings to bring home that tree for her. Today we head out to the tree farm, my husband, daughter and me, and chop down the tree and sling it on the roof, a prized trophy to take home and hang with lights and ornaments collected over the years. Even some ornaments my mom handmade that always get a special place on the tree. They let me know she is still there with us in spirit.

Citrus, garlic and pork, slow roasting in the oven. I would always wake to that smell and know it was Noche Buena. A time for family, friends and hope. In those first cold days in New York, the hope was to go home to Cuba. Volveremos my parents and their friends would say around the holiday table crammed with people and food. We’ll go home, but they never did.

I am home now. Here. My roots in the soil as firmly as those of the tree we just cut down. My love for this Nation as broad and wide as the branches of that pine. Maybe more. My wonderful friend, Lois Winston, made me a beautiful needlework pillow with a motif of American flag designs. She said of all people I would appreciate it best because I was the most patriotic person she knew. It brought tears to my eyes.

The sounds. Pots and pans banging in the early morning, like church bells calling me to rise from bed and come help out in the kitchen because family and company are coming for this very special day. My grandma and mom would be there, bustling about to prepare the meal. To keep traditions alive as they share tales of cooking with their mothers and grandmothers.

Drop a penny in the water and dunk the octopus, one, two, three times, my grandmother would instruct as my sister and I watched the poor little thing curl and slip beneath the boiling water. It always tasted better than it looked!

At night the music would come on and couples would dance, their hips pumping and bodies moving to the sounds of the Latin beats. Later would come a conga around the house, everyone laughing and enjoying being together.

The music is still there in my house. Christmas carols and Gloria Estefan. No congas anymore, unfortunately. I’m a Cuban with a genetic defect: I can’t move my hips and have no rhythm. LOL!

The sights. Deep, forest green broken by the shimmer of glass balls and the painted wood of various ornaments. Some from my childhood, like those my mom made. Others collected over the years by my family. It’s fun to look at them and see the phases of our lives, from Power Rangers to one for a first driving license. Hubby’s always tend to lean toward the Mets and channel surfing. Then there are others I’ve bought in some of the places we’ve been lucky enough to visit. Hawaii. Italy. Our hard work has been rewarded by many opportunities that neither my husband nor I had as children.

I’ve added a tradition to those of the past: A Christmas village. Every year we put it up, although this year my daughter has a new shop, so I had to do it alone. That’s the cycle of things, I guess. In time she’ll take over the tradition and I’ll be the one doing the helping. We try to add something new every year. This year there were a number of additions. A cheese shop my daughter and I bought last year. A flower shop my sister gave me. A hotel, haberdashery and some horse drawn carriages from my lovely friend Gail, who is cleaning up and knew I would appreciate the additions to my village.

I was not so enthusiastic about the holidays this year, until I read this. Thank you for reminding me to treasure these moments, and to continue creating traditions and holiday memories with my own family. The sensual details are so visceral, intimate, and moving. Really appreciate the warmth and love in your post, and I’m glad I got to meet you via the blog tour!

Comments are closed.

Current Releases

WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER
June 2018#2 At the Shore Series

SNOW FALLINGAs seen on
Jane the Virgin
November 2017

Publishers Weekly
Top 10 Romance Pick!ONE SUMMER NIGHT
October 2017#1 At the Shore Series

UNDER THE BOARDWALK
July 2016

EMBRACE THE NIGHT#6 in the Take a Chance Series
October 2015

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR#4 in the Jersey Girls Contemporary
Romance Series
October 2015

FIGHT THE SHADOWSa Shadow Ops Thriller
June 2015

TAMING THE BACHELOR#3 in the Jersey Girls Contemporary
Romance Series
April 2015

ONE NIGHT OF PLEASURE#5 in the Take a Chance Series
March 2015

Available Box Sets

TAKE A CHANCE Volume 2 Military Romance Box Set#1 through #6 in the Take a Chance Series
December 2015

Friends to Visit

Annoying Legal Stuff

Legal NoticesCaridad, Caridad.com, Caridad Pineiro, Charity Pineiro, Live to Love on the Edge are all trademarks of Caridad Pineiro Scordato. Copyright 2006-2017 Caridad Pineiro Scordato. All Rights Reserved. Caridad respects your privacy and your e-mail and other information will not be shared or sold. Please note that making purchases through the shop and other affiliate links on this site may result in remuneration of some kind to Caridad.

Reborn Vampire Novels

Also visit with Caridad at The Calling is Reborn Vampire Novels website.